So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

earthgirl2

hi Vix, I didn't realise you had this new diary and I've just spent a lovely few hours reading through from the beginning. Great work with the allotment! I'll be reading with interest. 

Suffolk_lass

I have been looking at batteries and decided not to highjack your diary so have added it to mine.

themadvix

Suffolk_lass said:

Noted re supply and demand.

I have looked at the comparison table for SEG here and currently Tesla are paying the highest rate via Octopus (this might change)

To use Tesla you have to have either a Tesla or a Tesla power wall

 and I have averaged out our usage (alarmingly 2.943KWH per hour in the dark months) - of course an array would typically be something like 3.5KW.

The article on here is from a week or so ago.

Can you have a separate meter for your SEG to your consumption? (given they don't have to be with the same supplier)
 You can, although Mr MV isn’t sure that they can be with different suppliers (unless you’ve read otherwise??)

No idea if a battery bank would be possible here, how much it would cost (2.6 kW is about £2k, they come in 2.6 kW increments, I believe), how long it might last, storage overhead, whether it could be used with a SEG (Yes, it can), the benefits and dis-benefits - in my head it is also whether having these storage devices also needs to be run via an inverter to convert 12v to AC? They and the panels come with inverters as part of the setup.

Sorry, using your diary to brain dump a bit but you have probably researched all this already

Answers to your brain dump above gleaned from Mr MV - hope that helps?!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Hi Earthie!

Am just sitting with Niece who is watching The Emperor’s New Groove. We didn’t get to the cinema this morning as it was sold out! So we went for a scoot (her)/walk (me) to a nearby park which has a supervised play area in it, which was free and brilliant! And we’ve been to McDonald’s for a treat lunch (goes against all my ethics but I’d planned to go there after cinema and as a result didn’t have anything in).  She’s tired now (but no way will she admit that!) so a break in front of the TV will help before baking in a bit.

Karmacat

That sounds lovely, madvix, a great day.

Suffolk_lass

themadvix said:

Suffolk_lass said:

Can you have a separate meter for your SEG to your consumption? (given they don't have to be with the same supplier)
 You can, although Mr MV isn’t sure that they can be with different suppliers (unless you’ve read otherwise??)

Answers to your brain dump above gleaned from Mr MV - hope that helps?!

I read it on this MSE Guide to solar panels under point number 9 - this appeals to us because our Scottish Power tariff is fixed until next August (23)

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks SL - I did have a brief look at the article before I replied, but missed that. That's interesting and I can see why it would be relevant for you.

Thanks Karma - it was a good day (and it might have been me who needed a rest while we watched the film!). We made some chocolate crispy cake Easter nests after than and then Sis and Mum turned up to collect her. I confess we ended up with pizza for tea (from the Coop, not takeaway and it was on offer).

I have been to see the morning cat (who drew blood yesterday - she's very unpredictable!) and to Tesco for Olio collection. Work is quiet, although I have a meeting about some possible temp work this afternoon and also am expecting something from my main client, either today or tomorrow. I've just done another small platform job though - it all helps. I also have quite a bit of housework to do and must get some seeds sown too (at this rate my allotment is going to look beautiful but empty!)

MS things:
* Clicks done - good morning for HW, have just withdrawn £5
* Full use of my 10% from Olio - we needed some bread for the freezer
* Some use by bits from Tesco that can't be Olioed - stir fry for tonight and some potato slices that have been frozen
* Lunch will be IP soup, using up some bits that need eating, with a bit of baguette; dinner will be stir fry - no oven today
* Heating is off - Mr MV is at work this morning at least. It's not too bad here at the moment.
* Can borrow a suitcase from mum for trip


Gratitudes:
* Lovely day yesterday with Niece and she didn't want to go home (and the cats made really good progress with her - she has a love/terrified relationship with them)
* Lovely evening cat makes up for terror of morning cat!
* Only one hiss and no attacks from morning cat today (unfortunately I'm looking after her for a fortnight, so there's plenty of time yet!)

Have a good day all!

earthgirl2

Sounds great SH, so nice that your neice enjoyed such a lovely day.

So with you saying about not putting the oven on, does it use less electricity to use the hob? I have no idea about this.

themadvix

Hi Earthie (MV, not SH here )

The hob is definitely cheaper than the oven - the oven has to heat the whole space, rather than just a hob. I don't have the figures to hand, but I know ovens are expensive to run. The Instant Pot (https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/does-an-instant-pot-use-a-lot-of-electricity) or microwave (see this week's MSE email or the new 90 ways guide) are definitely better than the oven (and probably more efficient than the hob too). If I'm using the oven, I want to fill it really, with some bits for another meal or a bake or similar. At least we have two shelves now (the oven only came with one!), which meant I cooked both pizzas last night at the same time, rather than sequentially. I've popped the potato things I got in my Olio collection in the freezer partly because I don't want to use it today (yummy though they look). If you've got a smart meter you can see the difference in power between the hob and the oven.

Was popping back to say I've just ordered (from the Big River, urgh) 20l of slug wool pellets for the allotment - I've found these to be effective in the past at keeping slugs at bay and I wanted more than a small bag (which is what you can find at garden centres at horrific mark-ups). 20l should last a while. I used the remnants of a Christmas voucher and PC credit, so no cost to me. Stupid girl though, didn't check my balance before claiming some Am vouchers from postal survey, so now have more than I needed! Oh well... they'll do for the second half of the year - really don't use Am very much at all.

badmemory

I've always assumed the hob uses less as it doesn't need to warm up like the oven, but I've always had gas.